Artwork selection: my secret thrill
Original artwork by local artist (and my mother!) Rita Monaco in the home of our Garden Suite clients.
It’s a thrill that never gets old: connecting people with artwork that they love - and I mean capital L.O.V.E. I grew up in a household of artists and artisans so art has always been around me and, in some ways, I’ve taken it for granted because of it's ever-presence in my surroundings: there always be art. Perhaps it is because I have been surrounded by art my whole life that I find it ‘easy’ to make selections: I buy what I love. It sounds simple enough but when working with a client it can be challenging to tap into what resonates with them and make suggestions they will be drawn to. I often joke that it’s easier to buy someone underwear than it is to buy them art!
In a recent interview for UBC Magazine I discuss making an impact in your space by including artwork - preferably original work or prints by the artist - as being critical to creating a home reflective of who you are. Great art (which I define as anything that you find great) can be a window to another world, a conversation starter, a point of connection to a time and place and it should always be a connection with another human. I insist on original artwork wherever possible as there’s an inherent uniqueness to it for it is one of a kind. Only you have this piece, a piece that could have only been created by this one human, and it hangs on your wall. Two people are linked for as long as you have their work. It may sound silly but it’s like setting someone up on a date, one that flourishes into a long-lasting relationship!
One of my current projects is giving me such thrills. The client and I are delving into the art world: meeting artists in their studios, visiting galleries and I am creating room schemes that ‘start with art’. My client’s enthusiasm for beautiful art is inspiring and a joy - designers don’t often talk about the delightful aspects of the job but I have to say, selecting artwork is down right fun!
Whether large or small, the art in your home should always spark something in you.
View of a mountain lake by Steve Neufeld custom printed onto wood substrate for our Olympic Village project.
My room sketch for the client’s living room, a gift to the client, along with a print by artist Rose Electra Harris on the shelf of our client’s home in Point Grey.
For some inspiration visit my Pinterest collection of artists and their works.